Toy vehicle



Oct. 9, 1951 REMPEL 7 2,570,711

' TOY VEHICLE- Filed June 10, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Y INVENTOR. Dz'eirz cfi GR'm m-t'l I BY I Oct. 9, 1951 REMPEL 2,570,711

TOY VEHICLE Filed June 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Dz'elf'l'ch G Renyzel BY WWW Patented Oct. 9, 1951 'Dietrich Be mpel, Akron, Ohio, assignor to Rernpel Manufacturingfliicl, Akron, Ohio, a

corporationofOhio Application June 10, 1946, Serial No. 675,703

Claims. (01. 464-201) This invention relatesto toy vehicles of vulcan'ized rubber or the like, molded to' simulate the appearance of real vehicles such as' automobiles.

An object of .the invention is to provide a toy vehicl'eihaving a body part of vvulcanized rubber, and improved means for quickly and securely mounting achass'is therein, whereby production costs .areireduced to a-minimum.

lAnothersobjectof the inventionisto provide a rubbfiertoy vehicle of the character described with a simple inexpensive means for mounting a. propelling mechanism in the same.

These and other objectszof the invention will be manifest from the following brief description andthe accompanying drawings.

Of theaccompanying drawings:

Figure .1 is alongitudinal,crossesection through a toy.automobileembodying the features ofthe invention.

"zFigu'rea2 is a cross section taken substantially on theline 2+2 of Figure 1. Figjure'B is .a'zfragmentary cross-section;taken substantially atthe line 33 of Figure 1.

FigureA is-a topperspective Viewer a chassis, including .a .propelling mechanism,,of the type adapted to be incorporated in the toy. V

Figureibiisaiview similar to Figure 3, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view taken substantial rza vth l n 6TB o 73 55 16: H

Figure 7 is a bottom plan viewpf atoy automobile, illustrating another modified form of the invention.

Figure 8 is a fragmentarycross-section taken substantially onthe line 8-8 of Figure '7.

Referring particularly toFi'gur's 1, 2; 3ia'nd .4, the mimeral'Ill-designates a-bodyof a toy v'hicle formed of vulcanized rubber to simulate a real automobile. The body Ill is hollow to save rubber, and may be open at the bottom to define a generally rectangular skirt portion I3, which due to the inherent resiliency of the rubber is of requisite flexibility for a purpose to be described.

Provided around the inner periphery of the rectangular skirt portion I3 may be vertically spaced ribs l5, l5, defining relatively narrow grooves I6, l6 and [6a, lGa at opposite ends and opposite sides, respectively, of the body for snugly receiving corresponding opposite end and opposite side portions l1, l1 and Na, Ila, of substantial length, on frame 18 of a chassis l9 (see Figure 3). The frame I8 is formed of a narrow strip of relatively stiff material, such as metal, to be received in the grooves l5, 16a. At each cornerof frame [8 the sides are oppositely inwardly offset, as indicated at, Na, 1311, for receiving opposite rubber wheels on front and rear aggles' 20 and 2| mounted between said offset side portions of the frame. On rear axle 2| is agear 23 for meshing with a gear 2 4 on a s ears, extending between the sides of the f rame.' For propelling the toy, the shaft 25 carries a suitable spring winding mechanism 26 ,adapted to be wound, by means of a key 21 howgirl chaindotted lines in Figure l to turntheir'e ar'wh'eel ,assernblyZl in the frame through 'gears i l and production of the toy vehicle described; the chassis [9 is assembled on the body lfl 'by flexing thelower skirt portion l3 outwardly, agains strong inherent resiliency of the'r'ubbr thereof, substantially as indicated in chai'ndotted lins inFigurel. The frame :am y'be slightly larger thanlthe recess l'lto 'assure'tightgrippin 0f the skirt po'rtion about the frame securely and thereby retain the body and chassis in assembled relation. A suitable aperture may be provided in o side or thes kirtlvportiori 13 .for receivin winding key 27 thereth rough, and onto theout- ,wardl'y projecting shaft extension 25a ofthe winding niechanismf Theresilint flexibility of he am n t qiil .r r'il fii q e b ma ee haneed .b l q iq bf n eg remt tineprqs -m gib r .33 and? in th ;.h 1 w d Al a w aslb ihe elat v j 'rt di ribs l5 of the perimetrical groove [6. Th arm-d s t d n c i n m k s. po sible the provision of a simple windup propelling mechanism for rubber toy vehicles, and the metho o assem n and m u ing the chassis Hinth .bqd fl, reduces r uct nc stsatga minim m with a cpnseq n cti n. h cos of the finished article.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 6 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, wherein integral rubber buttons 35 are provided in the skirt portion i3 at the sides thereof within a groove Ilia. Each button 35 is provided with a relatively short neck portion 36 and an enlarged head 31, the rubber head being adapted to be yieldingly urged through an aperture 38 in the frame l8, of substantially the same shape and size as neck portion 36. Thus the head will engage the inner face of frame [8 to provide additional locking means for retaining the frame in position. The head 31 may be tapered inwardly of body [0 to facilitate ready reception thereof through aperture 38. One or more of the buttons 35 is provided at each side of body 10 in particular mom 3 instances where the body is relatively long and flexible.

The modified form of the invention illustrated in Figures '7 and 8 is in principle similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. The frame 40, however, is rectangular and is yieldingly received in a correspondingly rectangular groove 4| provided around the inner perimeter of the skirt portion 42 of the rubber vehicle body 43. Slots 44 are provided in the skirt portion 42 for receiving the axles 45 and 46 of the front and rear assemblies of the frame 40, and recesses 41, 41 are provided on the under side of the body 43 for receiving the wheels 48, 48. The propelling mechanism carried by the frame 40 is otherwise the same as previously described.

Other modifications of the invention may be resorted to without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy vehicle comprising a chassis including a frame of relatively rigid construction having end portions of substantial extent along opposite portions to provide bearing surface, and a hollow body of rubber or like resilient material, said body opening at the bottom to provide a skirt portion having generally'the configuration of the frame, said skirt portion having lateral grooving presented inwardly of the body corresponding to said frame portions, said frame being received in said grooving by fiexure of said skirt portion and being retained therein by the inherent resiliency of the material of said body,said frame having a plurality of apertures therein and said skirt portion having integral 'protuberances in the grooving receivable therethrough for locking the frame in said groove.

2. A toy vehicle comprising a chassis including a frame of relatively rigid construction having opposite edge portions of substantial length, and a body of rubber or like resilient material, said body being hollow and'opening at the bottom to define a flexible skirt portion having generally a configuration corresponding to said edge portions, said skirt portion having lateral grooving presented inwardly of the body, said frame edge portions bein received in said grooving by fiexure of said flexible skirt-portion and being retained thereinby the inherent resiliency of the material of said body, interengaging means being provided on'said frame and said body to lock the same together.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a chassis including a frame having opposite portions of substantial length, and a body hollowed on the underside thereof to define a skirt portion of flexible resilient material and having generally the configuration of the frame, said skirt portion having 4 lateral groovin presented inwardly of the body corresponding to said frame portions, said frame being received in said grooving by flexure of said flexible skirt portion and being retained therein by the inherent resiliency of the material of said skirt, spaced wheel assemblies carried by said frame, one of said wheel assemblies including an axle rotatable with respect to the frame and at least one wheel thereof being driven by the rotatable axle, and a spring-wound mechanism carried by said frame and including a driving connection to said rotatable axle to rotate said driven wheel or wheels for propellin the toy.

4. A toy vehicle comprising a chassis including a frame having opposite portions of substantial length, and a body hollowed on the under side thereof, to define a skirt portion of flexible resilient material having generally the configuration of the frame, said skirt portion having lateral grooving presented inwardly of the body corresponding to said frame portions, said framebeing received in said grooving by fiexure of said flexible skirt portion and being retained therein by the inherent resiliency of the material of said skirt, spaced wheel assemblies carried by said frame, one of said wheel assemblies including an axle rotatable with respect to the frame and at least one wheel thereof being driven by the rotatable axle, and a propelling mechanism carried by said frame and including adriving connection to said rotatable axle to rotate said driven Wheel or wheels for propelling the toy.

5. A toy vehicle comprising a chassis includin a frame having oposite portions of substantial length and a body hollowed on the underside thereof, to define a skirt portion of flexible resilient material and having generally the configuration of the frame, said skirt portion having lateral grooving presented inwardly of the body corre- SDOIldlllg to said frame portions, said frame being received in said grooving by flexure of said flexible skirt portion and being retained therein by the inherent resiliency of the material of said skirt, spaced wheel assemblies carried by said frame including axles mounted on said frame and having wheel members freely rotatable on opposite ends thereof.

DIETRICI-I G. REMPEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 4

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 Lower Mar. 24, 1936 

